Abstract
Introduction: Obesity is treatment-resistant, and is linked with a number of serious, chronic diseases. Adult obesity rates in the United States have tripled since the early 1960s. Recent reviews show that an increased ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids contributes to obesity rates by increasing levels of the endocannabinoid signals AEA and 2-AG, overstimulating CB1R and leading to increased caloric intake, reduced metabolic rates, and weight gain. Cannabis, or THC, also stimulates CB1R and increases caloric intake during acute exposures.Goals: To establish the relationship between Cannabis use and body mass index, and to provide a theoretical explanation for this relationship.Results: The present meta-analysis reveals significantly reduced body mass index and rates of obesity in Cannabis users, in conjunction with increased caloric intake.Theoretical explanation: We provide for the first time a causative explanation for this paradox, in which rapid and long-lasting downregulation of CB1R following acute Cannabis consumption reduces energy storage and increases metabolic rates, thus reversing the impact on body mass index of elevated dietary omega-6/omega-3 ratios.
Highlights
Obesity is treatment-resistant, and is linked with a number of serious, chronic diseases
The current review and meta-analysis establishes the impact of Cannabis use on body mass index (BMI) and obesity rates, and provides a well-supported physiological, causative explanation for this impact
Cannabis use appears to reverse the impact of the modern American diet on health by reducing the effects of an elevated ratio of omega-6/omega-3 fatty acids on endocannabinoid tone
Summary
Obesity is treatment-resistant, and is linked with a number of serious, chronic diseases. Limiting the analysis to the data from the highest dosage or duration of use reported in each study resulted in a mean BMI of users of 25.5 kg/m2, a difference of 2 kg/m2 that is significantly lower than the BMI of nonusers ( p < 0.001, paired t-test, T = 6.00, Fig. 2 and Table 2).
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